Factors Associated with Vulnerability of Self-Image in the Face of Social Media Use Among Generation Z

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze, through an integrative literature review, the scientific evidence relating the inappropriate use of technologies and social media to self-image construction in youth, as well as its effects on mental health and social bonds. The theoretical framework is grounded in authors such as Erikson, Festinger, Goffman, Papalia, and other references on human development and psychology. The methodology consisted of an integrative literature review carried out in the SciELO, LILACS, PubMed/MEDLINE, and PePSIC databases, comprising publications from 2018 to 2026. The final sample consisted of 5 scientific articles. The results indicate that excessive and unregulated social media use constitutes a significant risk factor for negative self-image perception among young people, with social comparison being the central mechanism underlying this relationship. An association was also found between excessive immersion in the digital environment and the onset or worsening of symptoms such as anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and social isolation. Finally, the findings demonstrate that such harms are not irreversible, highlighting conscious reduction of usage time and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based interventions as effective strategies. It is concluded that technology should not be understood as a risk factor in itself, but rather as a medium whose effects depend on how it is used.